Welding rod alloys



Patented Mar. 27, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WELDING ROD ALLOYSNoDrawing. Application June 8, 1932,

Serial No. 616,095

8 Claims.

My invention relates to welding rod alloys, and will be best understoodfrom the following description of several examples of alloys compoundedaccording to the invention.

Although, for many reasons, brass has desirable properties when employedfor welding rods, brass alloys as heretofore compounded commonly resultin a weld metal which is porous and deficient in strength, probably dueto the fuming of the zinc objectionable due toits harmful effects on theoperator. Further, such prior alloys commonly result in a poor bond, andin a weld metal that is deficient in hardness for many uses.

Applicant has found that fuming in brass welding rods can be eliminatedby the use of iron and nickel in proper proportions to the copper andzinc contents, and that, at the same time, an extremely dense andsufilciently hard weld metal can be produced and a strong bond secured,so strong a bond in fact that when steel plates are welded, andsubjected to tension, the break ordinarily will occur in the plates andnot at the weld.

In compounding the alloy according to applicants invention, it isdesirable that the proportions of constituents are such that astructural condition of the alloy is secured which will result in a lowmelting point and. high strength. In general, this structural conditionwill be secured when the proportions of constituents are such that acombination of an alpha and beta structure is present, and in thisconnection it has been found that if the copper content is increased toa point where the beta phase disappears there is great difliculty inobtaining a proper bond between the alloy' and steel or iron.

In general, sufficient hardness will be secured when the alloy containsfrom 1 to 2% iron, resulting in a dense hard surface allowing the metal40 to be employed for building up worn parts which are to besubsequently machined. Under favorable conditions suilicient hardnessmay be secured with the iron content as low as 0.25% of the alloy.

Apparently the strength of the bond is largely influenced by thepresence of nickel, in the absence of substantial amounts of which metala poor bond is secured. ,Under ordinary conditions,

- satisfactory results will be secured with a nickel 50 content of about2% of the alloy, although, under favorable conditions, as small anamount as 0.25% may be satisfactory.

In general, all the hereinbefore mentioned desirable results will besecured when the iron is 55 between 0.25 and 3% of the alloy, and thenickel contained in the brass, which fuming in itself is between 0.25and 5% of the alloy, provided the copper content is within the correctrange, which range will be secured, with the mentioned ranges of ironand nickel, when the sum of the copper, iron and nickel is from to 65%of the alloy, the balance in each case being zinc.

To insure against any deleterious effects of impurities, such as oxides,or sulphur which tends to combine with the nickel, small amounts ofmanganese may be incorporated for deoxidizing the other metals and fortaking up the sulphur. Preferably the amount of manganese will notexceed 1%, it being understood ofcourse that where impurities are notpresent no manganese need be employed. Preferably also the alloy is freefrom aluminum which seems to decrease the facility with which the weldmay be formed.

The general formula of the alloy as above described is ironapproximately 0.25 to 3%, nickel approximately 0.25 to 5%, the sum ofthe copper, iron and nickel approximately 50 to manganese optional,depending upon the presence of impurities, in amounts up to 1%, with thebalance substantially all zinc, it being understood of course that othermetals may be incorporated for imparting special characteristics wherethey do not eliminate the desirable properties hereinbefore pointed out.All alloys made according to this general formula therefore consistessential- 1y of copper, iron, nickel and zinc in the ranges ofproportions stated even though the alloy contains impurities which maybe harmless or contains manganese to eliminate any pgssible effect ofharmful impurities, and so long as the impurities, manganese, or othermetals which may be present do not destroy the characteristic propertiesof the pure copper-iron-nickel-zinc alloy. An excellent alloy forwelding having all around properties of density, strength, hardness, andabsence of fuming, consists of approximately copper 57%, iron 1 to 2%(say 1.5%), nickel 2%, manganese 0.2%, zinc the balance.

In accordance with the above it will be understood that wide deviationsmay be made from the embodiments of the invention herein describedwithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. Alloys useful for welding rods consisting of copper, iron, nickel,and zinc in approximately the following ranges of proportions: copper 42to 64.5%, iron 0.25 to 3%, nickel 0.25 to 5%, zinc the balance, but inall instances the sum of the copper, iron and nickel being from 50 to65%.

2. The alloys according to claim 1 containing substantial amounts up to1% of manganese. 110

3. Alloys useful for welding rods consisting of copper, iron, nickel,and zinc in approximately the following ranges of proportions: copper 43to 63.8%, iron 1 to 2%, nickel 0.25 to 5%, zinc the balance, but in allinstances the sum of the copper, iron and nickel being from 50 to 65%.4. The alloys according to claim 3 containing substantial amounts up to1% of manganese.

5. Alloys useful for welding rods consisting 01 copper, iron, nickel,and zinc in approximately the following proportions: copper 57%, iron 1t 2%, nickel 2%, zinc the balance. I

